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The Tigers have been the biggest disappointment this season... with that pitching staff
and powerful lineup, they should have beaten Cleveland or at least won the wild card.
Yes, injuries took their toll on the starting pitching and bullpen....but the team has had
a fragile mindset, since the World Series of last year. Without Kenny Rogers, they crumbled
except for Verlander and a few of the no named kids in the starting rotation.
Joel Zumaya was hurt most of the year, and when he is healthy seems to be more interested
in hitting 100 on the gun...then in becoming a great reliever.
the bullpen dropped far too many late inning games this year, blowing large leads and were
generally unreliable.
Gary Sheffield was a bust, hurt for the most important part of the season... and mouthing off
playing the Race Card in interviews for the other part of the year....
Sheffield has a great, quick bat and is a good overall player...but he is his own worst enemy
and shoots himself in the foot with his stupid comments and actions.... after he is done
in Detroit...I doubt whether he will be given much of a shot elsewhere in baseball, since Leyland
is one of the few managers left that will tolerate his antics and stick up for him.
All of this contributed to the Tigers downfall this year....they are still very very talented but
need to pull out of the mental midget state, as well as be healthier physically next year in order
to contend.
The Tigers should be right up there with the Red Sox and Yankees....
Anyway, the Red Sox will still make the playoffs so don't fret too much guys...
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